This conference has a strong focus on getting students from all of our Concordia Universities, Colleges, and Seminaries excited and involved in becoming missionaries to the people in their community, the people at their schools, and throughout the world. We are called to go and tell people about that gift that we have received though Christ Jesus and move into mission action every day.

Lutheran Church Charities will have a booth at the conference to share about the many different mission opportunities of Lutheran Church Charities.

Pete also shared with the students the training that K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs go through and how they are used as a bridge to share the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ.

Although the outcome of the game wasn't great, Lutheran Church Charities appreciated being invited to the party and the opportunity to share about what God is doing in and through the different areas of LCC. LCC Comfort Dogs Shami (St John - Darien), Tara, and Tillie were part of the day's festivities and brought much needed comfort to all the Chicago Bears fans.

There are two new members of the LCC K-9 Parish Comfort Dog team. Pictured here with Pete Imlah are our new puppies, Jackson and Louie. Both are ½ European Cream Golden Retrievers and ½ American Golden Retrievers. Both puppies were donated to LCC for the Comfort Dog Ministry by Debbie Szwandrok.

Debbie owns Eclipse Dog Grooming (Click here for more info.) and provides free grooming services for several of our Comfort Dogs. She also breeds Golden Retrievers (Click here for more info.) Debbie has graciously donated these two puppies to help in the purchase of a trained K-9 Parish Comfort Dog for Walther Lutheran High School and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School.

Jackson was named in memory of Doug Grebasch, former principal of St. Paul Lutheran School who passed away this past Labor Day. Doug and Gail Grebasch were instrumental in getting a K-9 Parish Comfort Dog placed at Walther and St. Paul. Doug was a Civil War buff and his favorite military leader was General Stonewall Jackson.

LCC's K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs were invited to participate in the "Big Serve" at Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee. Over 475 individuals participated in this event for the purpose of having a positive impact on their community and experience the joy of drawing people closer to Christ through service.

Individuals of all ages could participate in general building and home maintenance in local senior homes, Habitat for Humanity, Well Children Center in Elgin, FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville, and community yard work; crafty servant projects like assembling fleece blankets, caner hats, and encouragement cards; and food service type things like collecting non-perishable food donations, preparing lunches for crisis centers and homeless shelters. They also had teams visit four local nursing/assisted living homes with LCC's K-9 Parish Comfort dogs and made care packages for soldiers. LCC appreciates being asked to participate in the wonderful event and commends Immanuel Lutheran Church for making such an impact in their community.

On Wednesday, October 6th LCC's K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs visited with students at St. Paul Lutheran Academy in Skokie. Star and Tillie along with Comfort Dogs in training Faith, Hope and Jo Jo visited classrooms and spent time being pet. Pete Imlah shared in Chapel on the importance of knowing who we are and whose we are: A called child of God with a purpose - to love God and love others.

On Sunday October 3rd, seven of the LCC K-9 Parish Comfort Dogs enjoyed a beautiful fall day at the Walcamp Fall Fest in Kingston, IL. Butter, Hope, JoJo, Leo, Shami, Star, and Tillie greeted and loved on folks as they enjoyed the beautiful surroundings that Walcamp Outdoor Ministries has to offer. This was a great opportunity for us to share about the work and ministry of Lutheran Church Charities and our K-9 Parish Comfort Dog Ministry.

Last Monday and Tuesday, Tim Hetzner, Pete Imlah, and Rev. Tim Engel, along with LCC Comfort Dog Tillie, joined over 80 participants at the NID South Region Pastor's Conference at Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center.  Tillie spent time greeting and giving comfort to the pastors as Tim, Pete, and Rev. Engel reaffirmed LCC's desire to walk alongside them and encourage them to share the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ to those in their communities.